‘Zainul’s devotion to art never bothered me rather I got into the swing of it,’ says Begum Jahanara Abedin, widow of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, while talking about the artist’s passion, dream and struggle in life.

Jahanara remembers the memory of the painter at an interview ahead of his 98th birth anniversary was observed on Thursday.

She, however, expressed her grievance over the preservation of the painter’s artwork carelessly.

Memories came flooding back to Jahanara’s mind while being interviewed at her Shantinagar residence.

‘After graduation in 1938, Zainul joined Calcutta Art School and we got married in 1946,’ she said. ‘I was a Class IX student then.’

The couple’s Calcutta life was ended by Indo-Pak partition in 1947 and they were forced to come to Dhaka. ‘Zainul took a job at Primary Teachers’ Training Institute as drawing teacher at Tk 150 monthly wage,’ remembered Jahanara.

Financial crisis and soaring family expenses compelled Zainul to meet with harsh situations. ‘He had to make book covers, commercial advertisements and posters, but such commercial works did not satisfy him.’

‘At first, his works were not acclaimed at all as people in this part had a little idea on modern art form. They rather evaluated Shilpacharya’s devotion for art as wastage of time,’ said Jahanara.

A file photo shows Zainul at his studio

‘Soon he understood the problem and dreamt of establishing an art college with a view to building aspirations and interests to art among the people.’

‘Zainul, along with his contemporaries mostly from Calcutta Arts College, and with the help of several political leaders of East Pakistan establish a school,’ said she.

‘His friends and guests frequently came to our house on Abdul Hadi Lane in the Old Town of Dhaka and talked about the arts school and tried to find out solutions to maintain the institution properly,’ Jahanara remembered.

Octogenarian house-wife Jahanara further informed that it was Zainul, who initiated to preserve and nurture the traditional art form in Bangladesh by establishing a folk art museum.

Jahanara also shared the memories of Zainul’s personal life. ‘Whenever he got time, especially at night, he used to paint.’

Jahanara still feel proud of her companion’s skills. ‘Abedin could complete sketch, drawing and watercolour painting within a short time and even paintings using oil-colour.’

‘In our early life, I had little knowledge about paintings, but I always tried to ensure a convenient ambience for enhancing his creativity,’ said Jahanara.

After the Independent in 1971, he and his friends donated money to establish the folklore museum at Sonargaon in Narayanganj. They also managed donations from the government.

In 1975 he was diagnosed with cancer and failed to recover. He died in 1976.

After his death, Jahanara donated more than 300 paintings to the National Museum and a bigha of land to a non-governmental organisation establishing school, Jahanara said.

His paintings should be kept well protected and with in proper care, Jahanara thought.

Comment

Shilpacharya's widow Begum Jahanara Abedin

‘Zainul’s devotion to art never bothered me rather I got into the swing of it,’ says Begum Jahanara Abedin, widow of Shilpacharya Zainul Abedin, while talking about the artist’s passion, dream and struggle in life.

Jahanara remembers the memory of the painter at an interview ahead of his 98th birth anniversary was observed on Thursday.

She, however, expressed her grievance over the preservation of the painter’s artwork carelessly.

Memories came flooding back to Jahanara’s mind while being interviewed at her Shantinagar residence.

‘After graduation in 1938, Zainul joined Calcutta Art School and we got married in 1946,’ she said. ‘I was a Class IX student then.’

The couple’s Calcutta life was ended by Indo-Pak partition in 1947 and they were forced to come to Dhaka. ‘Zainul took a job at Primary Teachers’ Training Institute as drawing teacher at Tk 150 monthly wage,’ remembered Jahanara.

Financial crisis and soaring family expenses compelled Zainul to meet with harsh situations. ‘He had to make book covers, commercial advertisements and posters, but such commercial works did not satisfy him.’

‘At first, his works were not acclaimed at all as people in this part had a little idea on modern art form. They rather evaluated Shilpacharya’s devotion for art as wastage of time,’ said Jahanara.

A file photo shows Zainul at his studio

‘Soon he understood the problem and dreamt of establishing an art college with a view to building aspirations and interests to art among the people.’

‘Zainul, along with his contemporaries mostly from Calcutta Arts College, and with the help of several political leaders of East Pakistan establish a school,’ said she.

‘His friends and guests frequently came to our house on Abdul Hadi Lane in the Old Town of Dhaka and talked about the arts school and tried to find out solutions to maintain the institution properly,’ Jahanara remembered.

Octogenarian house-wife Jahanara further informed that it was Zainul, who initiated to preserve and nurture the traditional art form in Bangladesh by establishing a folk art museum.

Jahanara also shared the memories of Zainul’s personal life. ‘Whenever he got time, especially at night, he used to paint.’

Jahanara still feel proud of her companion’s skills. ‘Abedin could complete sketch, drawing and watercolour painting within a short time and even paintings using oil-colour.’

‘In our early life, I had little knowledge about paintings, but I always tried to ensure a convenient ambience for enhancing his creativity,’ said Jahanara.

After the Independent in 1971, he and his friends donated money to establish the folklore museum at Sonargaon in Narayanganj. They also managed donations from the government.

In 1975 he was diagnosed with cancer and failed to recover. He died in 1976.

After his death, Jahanara donated more than 300 paintings to the National Museum and a bigha of land to a non-governmental organisation establishing school, Jahanara said.

His paintings should be kept well protected and with in proper care, Jahanara thought.

Cultural organisation Sadhana delighted the houseful audience at a dance programme organised by the troupe on Sunday at the Chhayanaut auditorium as part of its regular bimonthly arrangement.

In the programme the artistes of the troupe gave colourful presentation of the contemporary dance recitals synchronised with various genres of music including patriotic songs, contemporary songs, folk songs and Tagore songs.

The show started with a group dance led by Sabina Hossain Prema with a patriotic song titled Joy bangla banlgar joy. Prema and her choir also gave brilliant performances while presenting two folk music based dance recitals.

Prema and her group received audience acclaims while presenting two more dance recitals based on patriotic songs O alor pathojatri and Aahoban shuno aahoban.

Arpita Shome presented a solo recital synchronised with a people’s song Janotar sangram cholbei. She along with her team was also equally brilliant presenting dance recitals with contemporary music such as Jodi mon kaade, Dekhechho ki takey and Jao pakhi bolo.

The choir led by Arpita also presented a few folk music based pieces at the programme.

Earlier, anchor of the programme Lubna Marium, also the chief of Sadhana, informed the audience that this was the 12th show of their regular bimonthly programme. She, however, announced to hold on the programme every month.

Comment

Ziaul Hasan

Artistes of Shadhana perform a dance recital.
—Snigdha Zaman

Cultural organisation Sadhana delighted the houseful audience at a dance programme organised by the troupe on Sunday at the Chhayanaut auditorium as part of its regular bimonthly arrangement.

In the programme the artistes of the troupe gave colourful presentation of the contemporary dance recitals synchronised with various genres of music including patriotic songs, contemporary songs, folk songs and Tagore songs.

The show started with a group dance led by Sabina Hossain Prema with a patriotic song titled Joy bangla banlgar joy. Prema and her choir also gave brilliant performances while presenting two folk music based dance recitals.

Prema and her group received audience acclaims while presenting two more dance recitals based on patriotic songs O alor pathojatri and Aahoban shuno aahoban.

Arpita Shome presented a solo recital synchronised with a people’s song Janotar sangram cholbei. She along with her team was also equally brilliant presenting dance recitals with contemporary music such as Jodi mon kaade, Dekhechho ki takey and Jao pakhi bolo.

The choir led by Arpita also presented a few folk music based pieces at the programme.

Earlier, anchor of the programme Lubna Marium, also the chief of Sadhana, informed the audience that this was the 12th show of their regular bimonthly programme. She, however, announced to hold on the programme every month.

A huge crowd enjoyed classical music presented by the local and Indian musicians for the entire night on Friday, the last day of the two day classical music festival organised by Chhayanaut at its auditorium to promote the music genre to a wider range of young audience in the country.

The day’s event began with a chorus presentation of raga hanshodhoni performed by the students of Chhayanaut.

Shantunu’s instrumental piece was outstanding. He mesmerized the audience with brilliant strokes on santor based on raga puriya dhanesree accompanied by Pinushen Das on Tabla. Local pakhwaz artiste Shusen Kumar Roy played a few ragas.

Indian instrumentalist Sri Ashim Chowdhury gave a powerful presentation on sitar based on raga malkosh. His improvisation created a soothing environment in the hall.

Another Indian musician Arnob Chatterjee delighted the audience with his brilliant presentation on different ragas such as marubehag, behag, jayjonti, and jog. Arnob Chatterjee was accompanied by Gopal Mishra on Tabla, Shantunu on harmonium and Jotirmoy Das on tanpura.

Local singer Asit Dey also gave soulful presentation on different ragas. Eminent singer Khairul Anam Shakil also created a pulse through his rendition of kowshikdhani and jayjonti ragas. He started his performance on slow tempo, subsequently kept on improvisations to make his presentation livelier.

Latiful Julio, Salok Hossain, Rabiul Hossain, Shumon Chowdhury also performed solos in the last night of the classical music festival supported by mobile operator company Robi.

Comment

Nazia Nusrat Adnin

A huge crowd enjoyed classical music presented by the local and Indian musicians for the entire night on Friday, the last day of the two day classical music festival organised by Chhayanaut at its auditorium to promote the music genre to a wider range of young audience in the country.

The day’s event began with a chorus presentation of raga hanshodhoni performed by the students of Chhayanaut.

Shantunu’s instrumental piece was outstanding. He mesmerized the audience with brilliant strokes on santor based on raga puriya dhanesree accompanied by Pinushen Das on Tabla. Local pakhwaz artiste Shusen Kumar Roy played a few ragas.

Indian instrumentalist Sri Ashim Chowdhury gave a powerful presentation on sitar based on raga malkosh. His improvisation created a soothing environment in the hall.

Another Indian musician Arnob Chatterjee delighted the audience with his brilliant presentation on different ragas such as marubehag, behag, jayjonti, and jog. Arnob Chatterjee was accompanied by Gopal Mishra on Tabla, Shantunu on harmonium and Jotirmoy Das on tanpura.

Local singer Asit Dey also gave soulful presentation on different ragas. Eminent singer Khairul Anam Shakil also created a pulse through his rendition of kowshikdhani and jayjonti ragas. He started his performance on slow tempo, subsequently kept on improvisations to make his presentation livelier.

Latiful Julio, Salok Hossain, Rabiul Hossain, Shumon Chowdhury also performed solos in the last night of the classical music festival supported by mobile operator company Robi.

Classical instrumental band Ionah Trio delightsl audience at the Alliance Française de Dhaka on Monday

Internationally acclaimed classical instrumental band Ionah Trio delighted a houseful audience at the La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka on Monday evening.

The three prodigy musicians of the band—Hideki Tsuji is on guitar, Abhisek Lahiri on sarod and Parimal Chakrabarty on table— mesmerised the audience through the Indian classical ragas played on string instruments and the rhythm of table.

The show began with the number titled ‘Badrinath’, which combines solo recitals and fusion of the instruments as well. With affectionate round of applause, the audience welcomed the first performance by Ionah Trio and the band belted one after one melodious numbers including Alewyinn, Music of Joy, Fight of the Little Blue Bird, Maya and Vehuia.

Abhishek Lahiri and HideaKI Tsuji presented two solo recitals at the programme which also earned audience acclaims. The Indo-European musical evening wrapped up with the trio presentation titled Sakura.

Special guest Dr Zia Hasan, vice-president of Claflin University, South Carolina USA, and officials from different embassies were present as guests in the event jointly organised by Verb Events and AFD, in association with embassy of Japan in Bangladesh.

Comment

Cultural Correspondent

Classical instrumental band Ionah Trio delightsl audience at the Alliance Française de Dhaka on Monday

Internationally acclaimed classical instrumental band Ionah Trio delighted a houseful audience at the La Galerie of Alliance Française de Dhaka on Monday evening.

The three prodigy musicians of the band—Hideki Tsuji is on guitar, Abhisek Lahiri on sarod and Parimal Chakrabarty on table— mesmerised the audience through the Indian classical ragas played on string instruments and the rhythm of table.

The show began with the number titled ‘Badrinath’, which combines solo recitals and fusion of the instruments as well. With affectionate round of applause, the audience welcomed the first performance by Ionah Trio and the band belted one after one melodious numbers including Alewyinn, Music of Joy, Fight of the Little Blue Bird, Maya and Vehuia.

Abhishek Lahiri and HideaKI Tsuji presented two solo recitals at the programme which also earned audience acclaims. The Indo-European musical evening wrapped up with the trio presentation titled Sakura.

Special guest Dr Zia Hasan, vice-president of Claflin University, South Carolina USA, and officials from different embassies were present as guests in the event jointly organised by Verb Events and AFD, in association with embassy of Japan in Bangladesh.

Band Dalchhut lead by Bappa Majumder performs at the commemorative event

Popular band Dalchut celebrated 48th birth anniversary of its demised vocalist-lyricist Sanjib Chowdhury by presenting his hit numbers at a concert titled Ditio Sanjib Utsab organised on Sunday on the TSC premises of Dhaka University.

Sanjib Chowdhury, also a journalist, was one of the founding members of the band and also considered as a great source of inspiration to the young rock stars.

Besides Dalchut, promising bands including Mohakal, Onno Shor, Joy and Nirjhor, and Palash and Friends and other solo singers such as Milan Mahmud and Elita performed at the five-hour concert.

Dalchut also conferred Sanjib Scholarship to brilliant student of the department of journalism and media communication of Dhaka University at the programme in which DU Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique was the chief guest.

The concert began with Onno Shor’s performance. Next on stage was Joy and Nirjhor. Besides presenting its number Proshno, the band also performed a few songs written and composed by Sanjib Chowdhury.

Polash and Friends was next to rock and they didn’t disappoint the audience.

Elita karim with her newly formed band Retake performed Brishti, Kothay and Hridoyer Jhorey.

The most anticipating band of the show Dalchhut was the last band to perform. They just mesmerised the crowd presenting its hit numbers such as Baji, Gari chole na, Ami tomakey bole dibo and others, once recorded and performed by Sanjib. The band members became emotional while playing the numbers.

Comment

Nazia Nusrat Adnin

Band Dalchhut lead by Bappa Majumder performs at the commemorative event

Popular band Dalchut celebrated 48th birth anniversary of its demised vocalist-lyricist Sanjib Chowdhury by presenting his hit numbers at a concert titled Ditio Sanjib Utsab organised on Sunday on the TSC premises of Dhaka University.

Sanjib Chowdhury, also a journalist, was one of the founding members of the band and also considered as a great source of inspiration to the young rock stars.

Besides Dalchut, promising bands including Mohakal, Onno Shor, Joy and Nirjhor, and Palash and Friends and other solo singers such as Milan Mahmud and Elita performed at the five-hour concert.

Dalchut also conferred Sanjib Scholarship to brilliant student of the department of journalism and media communication of Dhaka University at the programme in which DU Vice Chancellor AAMS Arefin Siddique was the chief guest.

The concert began with Onno Shor’s performance. Next on stage was Joy and Nirjhor. Besides presenting its number Proshno, the band also performed a few songs written and composed by Sanjib Chowdhury.

Polash and Friends was next to rock and they didn’t disappoint the audience.

Elita karim with her newly formed band Retake performed Brishti, Kothay and Hridoyer Jhorey.

The most anticipating band of the show Dalchhut was the last band to perform. They just mesmerised the crowd presenting its hit numbers such as Baji, Gari chole na, Ami tomakey bole dibo and others, once recorded and performed by Sanjib. The band members became emotional while playing the numbers.

Martyred intellectual Altaf Mahmud was remembered on his 78th birth day through a cultural programme organised by Udichi on Friday at the Music and Dance Centre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The event featured music, discussion and screening of a documentary. Shaheed Altaf Mahmud Foundation (SAMF) honoured music composer Alam Khan with ‘Altaf Mahmud Award’ at the programme.

Born on December 23, 1930, music composer Altaf Mahmud, also an iconic ganasangeet singer, disappeared in September 1971. He is famous for his unique composition of the song Amar bhai-er rakte rangano, the theme song of Language Movement Day.

The commemoration programme began with placement of flower wrath on the portrait of Mahmud by the members of Udichi and lighting earthen lamps. Eminent personalities such as Nasiruddin Yousuff, Shahidullah Khan Badal, Matiur Rahman and others delivered speeches at the programme presided over by Udichi president Golam Mohammad.

Remembering contribution of Altaf Mahmud during the language movement, SAMF president and a freedom fighter Shahidullah Khan Badal, also the publisher of New Age, said, ‘His protest against oppression and injustice will remain as the source of inspiration for the next generation. He is also a symbol of boldness.’

The cultural phase of the programme began with the chorus presentation of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s famous poem Bidrohi’s musical version, composed by Altaf Mahmud, synchronised with a group dance recital. In another chorus rendition, the singers of Udichi rendered Ghumer deshe ghum bhangate, also composed by Mahmud.

The final attraction of the event was screening of a documentary titled Altaf Mahmud, directed by Sentu Roy. The 90-minute documentary featured Altaf Mahmud’s uncompromising political and cultural stand against oppressions.

Comment

Cultural Correspondent

Martyred intellectual Altaf Mahmud was remembered on his 78th birth day through a cultural programme organised by Udichi on Friday at the Music and Dance Centre of Bangladesh Shilpakala Academy.

The event featured music, discussion and screening of a documentary. Shaheed Altaf Mahmud Foundation (SAMF) honoured music composer Alam Khan with ‘Altaf Mahmud Award’ at the programme.

Born on December 23, 1930, music composer Altaf Mahmud, also an iconic ganasangeet singer, disappeared in September 1971. He is famous for his unique composition of the song Amar bhai-er rakte rangano, the theme song of Language Movement Day.

The commemoration programme began with placement of flower wrath on the portrait of Mahmud by the members of Udichi and lighting earthen lamps. Eminent personalities such as Nasiruddin Yousuff, Shahidullah Khan Badal, Matiur Rahman and others delivered speeches at the programme presided over by Udichi president Golam Mohammad.

Remembering contribution of Altaf Mahmud during the language movement, SAMF president and a freedom fighter Shahidullah Khan Badal, also the publisher of New Age, said, ‘His protest against oppression and injustice will remain as the source of inspiration for the next generation. He is also a symbol of boldness.’

The cultural phase of the programme began with the chorus presentation of Kazi Nazrul Islam’s famous poem Bidrohi’s musical version, composed by Altaf Mahmud, synchronised with a group dance recital. In another chorus rendition, the singers of Udichi rendered Ghumer deshe ghum bhangate, also composed by Mahmud.

The final attraction of the event was screening of a documentary titled Altaf Mahmud, directed by Sentu Roy. The 90-minute documentary featured Altaf Mahmud’s uncompromising political and cultural stand against oppressions.